Cadillac CTS Engine Problems
Owners have filed 236 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Cadillac CTS across 17 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (49). The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (26% of reports).
- 236engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $3,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 47%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 61 of 236 complaints (26%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Cadillac CTS at $3,050, and half of them between $2,650 and $3,900.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2022), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 186 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 236 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 6 an injury.
Cadillac CTS engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 CTS | 2 | 20% | — |
| 2018 CTS | 1 | 13% | 12,300 |
| 2017 CTS | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2016 CTS | 4 | 13% | 7,379 |
| 2015 CTS | 4 | 8% | 72,000 |
| 2014 CTS | 9 | 6% | 85,000 |
| 2013 CTS | 7 | 10% | 22,500 |
| 2012 CTS | 6 | 9% | 46,919 |
| 2011 CTS | 13 | 13% | 39,674 |
| 2010 CTS | 10 | 15% | 35,250 |
| 2009 CTS | 49 | 29% | 87,500 |
| 2008 CTS | 22 | 13% | 78,500 |
| 2007 CTS | 22 | 10% | 99,000 |
| 2006 CTS | 28 | 10% | 96,000 |
| 2005 CTS | 24 | 9% | 86,176 |
| 2004 CTS | 5 | 2% | 109,000 |
| 2003 CTS | 29 | 9% | 83,397 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Cadillac CTS. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Caution - Pull Over Immediately - Turn off Engine and Wait to Restart Vehicle" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and followed the instructions, and the…
I have taken my vehicle or rather had my vehicle towed back to my dealership on three different occasions for repair of a Shift Cable Replacement I can have a very bad accident in my vehicle or lose my life or injure someone else the first time I didn't understand why my vehicle shutdown while I…
Engine burns 1quart of oil, 100 miles. Brakes went to floor, brake lines had holes at 69,000 miles. Driver rear axel leaks. 2006 Cadillac CTS is a lemon!! Money Pit !!!
I purchased this vehicle is certified preowned Cadillac and during the warranty time I had a transmission issue that was causing the transmission to jerk when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear and at highway speeds, it would start jerking nonstop. I took it to the dealer and as per a service bulletin…
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was a loud grinding and squeaking sounds coming from the vehicle. Additionally, there was a high-pitched sound coming from the vehicle. The contact also stated that the water pump was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Cadillac CTSs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 236 owner complaints about engine for the Cadillac CTS. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Cadillac CTS engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Cadillac CTS?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,050 (half paid between $2,650 and $3,900), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Cadillac CTS?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 61 of 236 complaints.
Other Cadillac CTS problems
- Power Train problems (462)
- Electrical System problems (383)
- Air Bags problems (378)
- Service Brakes problems (194)
- Steering problems (162)
- Suspension problems (119)
- Structure problems (113)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (111)
See all Cadillac CTS problems.